Bodkin / Patterns

Brent's Predator Baitfish

Streamer · Baitfish · Trout · Advanced · 1 version

Tyer Recipe

  • Hook Mustad 3407 saltwater, 3/0
  • Thread olive 3/0

Materials

  • Semperfli Predator Fibres Polar bear white (1 sparse bunch, halved)
  • Semperfli Predator Fibres Tan craft fur (small bunch)
  • Semperfli Predator Fibres Black-nose dace gray (small bunch)
  • Semperfli Predator Fibres Fluorescent red/orange semperfli predator fibres (small tufts)
  • Semperfli Predator Fibres Black ep fiber (small bunch)
  • Krystal Flash Silvery baitfish (a few strands per side)
  • Semperfli Colorado gold blend flash Rainbow gold (1 enveloping bunch)
  • Eyes Red, 7/16 inch (2)
  • Marine Goop (eye adhesive) Clear head cement (2 dollops)

How to tie it

  1. Start the olive 3/0 thread and wrap partway down the shank. You will not need the full length.
  2. Cut a sparse bunch of white Predator Fibres in half, taper each cut end at an angle, and tie the first bunch in at the rear position. These fibres bulk up fast, so use far less than you think.
  3. Tie a few strands of silvery baitfish Krystal Flash along each side and trim; the next layers will tone it down.
  4. Move forward and tie a tapered bunch of tan fibres over the top and sides, enveloping the white. Building toward a five-inch baitfish.
  5. Tie the second white bunch on the bottom corners rather than straight underneath. The flatter belly helps the fly hover instead of sinking like a jig.
  6. Tie a tapered bunch of the gray black-nose-dace blend on the top corners, its fibers meeting halfway down the sides so each layer envelops the last.
  7. Rotate the fly and add small tapered tufts of fluorescent red/orange on the bottom corners at the head for the gill flash.
  8. Top with a final tapered bunch of black for the dark back, letting the butts build a neat head.
  9. Comb everything with a coarse nylon brush to blend the layers, fold the Colorado gold flash around the top and sides so it envelops the fly, and whip finish; brush again aggressively.
  10. Put a generous dollop of Marine Goop mid-head on each side and press in the 7/16-inch red eyes, pupils facing forward.

Tying videos

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